Ok, thinking about jumping ship from Canon

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

01/02/2008 01:47:10 PM · #1

I don't have any real reason to stay with canon, I won't be selling my old eos-300d, I'll keep it around for backup so the lenses I have (which are few anyways) won't go to waste. I'm toying with two cameras now, either the Canon 40d which I have some experience with and the Nikon 200D. Mostly I'm looking for any reasons why I should or shouldn't switch from Canon to Nikon with this purchase.

There are a few features that I like of Nikon's on the 200d, but I'm not sure it's worth making the switch. Thoughts?

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/02/2008 01:51:37 PM · #2

I'd be asking myself "What's a good reason TO make the switch?" And if you can't come up with one, I'd stick with Canon, just because you're familiar with Canon's menus and control layout.

R.

electrolost

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 28-85mm 1:3.5-4.5

01/02/2008 01:57:59 PM · #3

nikon puts the D first.......D200 unlike canon who puts it last

aliqui

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/02/2008 01:59:41 PM · #4

From what I've seen it's a lot easier to buy used Canon lenses. Right now all of the Nikon users are trying to upgrade to the D300, so now would be a bad time to use the "Buy/Sell" forum as an example. Normally the "Buy/Sell" forum is packed full of used Canon gear. That would be one reason I'd stay with Canon if I was already up that road.

Oh, and our D's go in front! (D80, D200, etc) You'd have to get used to that, heh.

trevytrev

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

01/02/2008 02:00:59 PM · #5

I agree w/ Robert, if you can't find some real good reason to jump ship then I would just stick with the canon as you are used to their menues and button layout. That being said, regardless of what you get you will be getting a quality camera each with their own pluses and minuses. Good luck,Trevor~

smilebig4me1x

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

01/02/2008 02:01:14 PM · #6

for me there was three things that made me decide on canon to begin with (and again now with tax time appraoching..time for that backup body)
-Price difference-vs- everyday useable features
-how they felt in my hand. I have long fingers and the grip on the canon is bigger but perfect for me.I felt secure hold the canon unlike the nikon.
-the lenses I have now will interchange with the body I currently have and I wont be out of pocket for anymore cash than is necessary. I can use the money saved to get a better lens or one i dont have already ect

Message edited by author 2008-01-02 14:02:27.

LoudDog

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

01/02/2008 02:02:41 PM · #7

Originally posted by kellian:

There are a few features that I like of Nikon's on the 200d, but I'm not sure it's worth making the switch.

What are those features?

edit to add, why not keep the Canon body you have and get a new lens with the money? I see people with unimpressive lens collections always upgrading the body. Bodies change every year, upgrade when you need to, spend your money on lens!!!

Message edited by author 2008-01-02 14:07:05.

aliqui

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/02/2008 02:02:54 PM · #8

Originally posted by electrolost:

nikon puts the D first.......D200 unlike canon who puts it last

Originally posted by aliqui:

Oh, and our D's go in front! (D80, D200, etc)

And apparently us Nikonians are a bit neurotic.

jschro

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/02/2008 02:09:53 PM · #9

personally I'd stick with Canon, you already have lenses that you can use. If you go Nikon then you'll be like "ohhhh, I really love that Canon 70-200 2.8 IS, now I should buy the Nikon equivalent" Um duh, use the Canon, it's what you've got. If you had said that you were going to sell off your Canon gear then it might be a different story and then it's just up to personal taste really. But from what I've read the Canon's perform better at high ISO's and have less noise ...unless you get the new release from Nikon and that's not the model you mentioned.

option

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

01/02/2008 02:18:21 PM · #10

if youre gonna keep the canon stuff you already have, you might as well stick with canon...

what features of the D200 are so enticing to you?

Camabs

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 35mm f/2.0

01/02/2008 02:19:53 PM · #11

Originally posted by kellian:

I'm toying with two cameras now, either the Canon 40d which I have some experience with and the Nikon 200D.

I checked your belongings in your profile and my advise would be to buy one or two quality lenses rather than a new cam. They will open up a new world for you that a new body can not open.

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

01/02/2008 03:19:11 PM · #12

What features does Nikon offer that are enticing you?

And, if you were to switch, why would you switch to the D200, which is now obsoleted by the D300?

01/02/2008 03:20:28 PM · #13

Wow this thread got attention!

Here is what I was thinking...

First of all, I've always used Canons, but the 350D is the first digital I've worked with. I like my 350d, but it has limitations and shooting more weddings, I'm starting to notice them.

I was considering the 40D, which I've used, and I like, but I've not shot with Nikons yet. As for lens investments, I'm just starting out, so all I have is the 350D kit lens which sucks and a 50mm 1.8 prime which I love but it was only $80. Again, I'm not getting rid of the 350D.

So when I started pricing the 40D, I decided to price the Nikons too since I'm not terribly invested in Canon yet. As for knowing the controls, the 40D is different enough from the 350D that I had to learn to use it like it was new anyways... so that's not too much of a factor.

The features I like of the D200 really aren't deal breakers, but little things that are enticing, like various flash modes, like rear-sync and slow sync, stuff the 40D doesn't have. Not sure I'd do too much with that, but I have used rear curtain sync functions on my old Minolta. The other feature is the AE bracketing. I do a LOT of that with HDRs and the 40D can only bracket 3 shots as opposed to the D200's 2-9 shots. That's a nice feature since right now I have to play with the AE bracketing to get 6 different exposures and more often then not I end up with a duplicate of the middle exposure. I know I can only bracket 3 shots with the 350D, I'm not sure about the 40D, having a hard time finding that out, although while I was playing with it I could only figure out how to do 3 shots.

Another thing, I used the 40D the other night and I was forced to use the built in flash. After about 4 shots the battery drained down so much I had to wait about a minute before it would let me flash again, something I have not experienced with the 350D. Again, it was built in flash and the standard battery which was fully charged (according to the display). That bugged me. Please don't crucify me if that's to be expected, all I know is that it was a pain in the rear.

But basically, I'm at a crossroads here. I'll be buying more and more equipment from this point on, and I know that some people swear by Nikon, so I thought I would consider it. I'm not invested enough yet for it to NOT make sense to switch.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/02/2008 03:21:32 PM · #14

As for why the D200 and not the D300, honestly, I don't know. The D200 is what kept coming up in my price range. Nikon is a different language to me, so maybe I should be looking at the D300. Price is a big factor though.

Message edited by author 2008-01-02 15:23:20.

bassbone

Nikon Df

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

01/02/2008 03:22:11 PM · #15

Originally posted by aliqui:

Originally posted by electrolost:
nikon puts the D first.......D200 unlike canon who puts it last

Originally posted by aliqui:
Oh, and our D's go in front! (D80, D200, etc)

And apparently us Nikonians are a bit neurotic.

Having the D in front of the name is a good reminder that my camera is digital. This is especially useful when I go buy film...

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

01/02/2008 03:25:21 PM · #16

Originally posted by kellian:

The features I like of the D200 really aren't deal breakers, but little things that are enticing, like various flash modes, like rear-sync and slow sync, stuff the 40D doesn't have. Not sure I'd do too much with that, but I have used rear curtain sync functions on my old Minolta. The other feature is the AE bracketing. I do a LOT of that with HDRs and the 40D can only bracket 3 shots as opposed to the D200's 2-9 shots. That's a nice feature since right now I have to play with the AE bracketing to get 6 different exposures and more often then not I end up with a duplicate of the middle exposure. I know I can only bracket 3 shots with the 350D, I'm not sure about the 40D, having a hard time finding that out, although while I was playing with it I could only figure out how to do 3 shots.

No idea about the 40D battery life etc, but the canon cameras do all have first/ second curtain sync as well as the ability to drag the shutter, which I assume you mean by 'slow sync' Rear-sync gets called 'second-curtain sync' for Canon bodies.

I agree the extra bracketing steps is a nice feature. Canon seem to currently keep that for the 'pro' 1 series bodies, even though it is just a software modification.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

01/02/2008 03:26:13 PM · #17

I switched--but I had a reason:

The 18-200 VR lens. There was no equivalent for the Canon, and I find it a great all purpose lens.

I miss the Canon EF-S 10-22 on the Nikon, but the Sigma 10-20 isn't a bad replacement.

I love the large viewfinder on the Nikon D80; puts the rebel to shame. But the 30D and 40D have good viewfinders too; and the Canon 5D has the king of viewfinders, so it's mainly a matter of moving from Pentamirror to Pentaprism.

I do feel that the Nikons have more noise than the Canons, but it's not a major problem.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/02/2008 03:28:08 PM · #18

You're talking about keeping the Rebel. You're talking about doing weddings. A back-up body is REQUIRED if you shoot weddings. This ought to be a no-brainer.

R.

doc_gonzo

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

01/02/2008 03:30:14 PM · #19

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

You're talking about keeping the Rebel. You're talking about doing weddings. A back-up body is REQUIRED if you shoot weddings. This ought to be a no-brainer.

R.

And the words were taken right out of my mouth....

fotomann_forever

01/02/2008 03:34:56 PM · #20

The D200 has more noise than the 40D. The D200 is a generation behind the 40D.

One the other side Nikon flash systems kick Canon's butt!

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

01/02/2008 03:36:38 PM · #21

One other consideration... you're intending to shoot weddings, so you'll definitely need a primary camera and a backup camera. Having both cameras in the same system will be a benefit; if you need to switch bodies, you can use all the same lenses.
Another consideration is noise. Even the D300 is not as good as the 40D when it comes to noise at high ISO. For existing light work in dim churches, that confers an advantage to Canon unless you're considering the Nikon D3, which I'm sure you're not.

01/02/2008 03:38:33 PM · #22

I don't understand, I'm planning to keep the 350D as a backup until I can afford another body of whatever camera I choose. I really don't want this conversation to devolve into a conversation about what is necessary to shoot weddings. I have borrowed cameras to use as backups, but I charged $300-$400 for the two little weddings I've done so far, so buying 2 $1500+ cameras at once is NOT an option.

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

01/02/2008 03:38:46 PM · #23

Originally posted by kellian:

OK, the built in flash on a 40D should not take a full minute to charge and in any event, you'll be much, much better off using an external flash. The battery must have not been fully charged. I think I used the built in flash on my 10D about 5 times ever.

The 40D does have rear-curtain sync and I'm pretty sure your 350D does too.

I'm not sure what you mean by slow sync, but both cameras will sync at slow shutter speeds.

If the AE Bracketing is important enough to justify the expense, go ahead, but why bother with AEB at all? Just shoot in Manual and bracket as much as you like. It's easy, especially for things like HDR.

doc_gonzo

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

01/02/2008 03:39:26 PM · #24

mmm, D3.....

Whoops!, sorry 'bout that :-D